Book-rest



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM C. DOlV, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

B o 0 K R E s T.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 417,86O, dated December 24, 1889.

Application filed June 10, 1889. Serial No. 313,704. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. DOW, of Fresno, county of Fresno, State of California, have invented an Improvem ent in Book-Rests; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of book rests; and my invention consists in the novel extensible and contractible frame, the stops for the book-covers, the adjustable leaf-holder and line-marker, the adjustable supports, and details of construction and arrangement, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective rest adapted to be adjusted to different sizes of books, and which is provided with a means for holding the leaves open and marking the lines in copying.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my book-rest. Fig. 2 is a view of the rest, showing the application of a book thereto, the leaves being broken away at a portion of the edge to show the stops D, holding the covers of the book.

The rest is a frame composed of the side pieces A and the body-wires B and C. One of the wires B is a single piece secured at each end to one of the side pieces, and thence extending in parallel lines and bent at right angles transversely, forming at said angles the loops Z). The other wire C is also a single piece secured at each end to the other side piece A, and thence extending in parallel lines and bent at right angles transversely, forming at said angles the loops 0. v

The sides of wire B pass freely through the loops 0 of wire 0 and the sides of wire C pass freely through the loops 5 of wire B. This construction renders the frame extensible and v contractible-that is to say, the side pieces A may be drawn farther apart or caused to approach each other, the loops sliding 011 the sides of the opposite wires, the limit of separation being reached when the loops come together and the limit of approach being reached when the loops come in contact with the op posing side pieces. Secured to the inner surfaces of the side pieces are the stops D, of some suitable for1n-hore shown, for conven ience, as small screw eyes. Secured to the upper surface of the side pieces are the ways or guides E, in the form of wires bent downwardly at each end and inserted in the side pieces.

'1 is an elastic strip or string having at one end a ring f, by which it is fitted upon one of the ways or guides E, and having at its other end a hook f, by which it may be readily connected with and detached from the other way or guide E.

G are the supports of the frame. These consist of strips fitted either, through or alongside of the side pieces A and having elongated slots g, through which pass thumbscrews 9 into the side pieces, whereby said supports may be adjusted up or down and their angle varied.

The operation of the book-rest is as follows: The frame is extended to accommodate the size of the book, which is laid upon the bodywires B and O. The covers of the book are fitted with their edges under the stops D, so that said covers are held down well. The elastic strip or string F is then carried over the open face of the book and its hook f is fitted to its way or guide E, and said strip or string thus holds the leaves down. Being elastic, it will stretch to its place no matter what may be the extension or contraction of the frame. The elastic strip or string being mounted, as described, can be slipped up or down on the ways or guides, and the best position can be found for it in which it will hold the leaves to the best advantage. This slipping adjustment of the strip or string enables it to subserve another purpose-namely, of acting as a llllGlllZtPkQl in copying.

The frame may be held at the proper angle by the supports G.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The book-rest frame composed of the side pieces A and the body-wires B and G, each constructed of a single wire secured to said side pieces and having loops at the inner ends by which they are fitted and adapted to slide upon one another to render the rest-frame extensible and contractible, substantially as described.-

2. The book-rest frame composed of the side pieces A and the separate body-wires B and 0, each constructed of a single piece secured at its ends to one of the side pieces, and thence extending in parallel lines toward and past each other, and each having loops at the angles of its middle portion fitted ,upon the side portions of the other wire, whereby said restframe may be extended and contracted, substantially as described.

3. In a book-rest, and in combination with the sides thereof, the ways or guides on said sides and the strip or string having a ring at one end fitted upon the way or guide on onev side and a hook on its other end for attaching said strip or string to and detaching it from theway or guide on theot-her side, substantially as described.

6. In a boolcrest,-an extensible and con-.

tractible frame having side pieces, in combination with the ways or guides on said pieces, the elastic strip or string, the ring on one end of the strip or string, and the hook on its other end, whereby it is connected with and is adapted to slide upon said ways or guides, substantially as described.

7. In a book-rest, a supplemental frame having side pieces A, provided with stops on their inner surfaces adapted to lie between the leaves and the cover, substantially as described.

8. A book-rest consisting of the combination of a frame composed of side pieces A and body-pieces B and O, looped upon each other, whereby the frame may be extendedand contracted, the adjustable supports for said frame, the fixed stops for holding the book-covers down, the ways or guides on the side pieces, and the sliding elastic strip or string connected with the ways or guides, all. arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

V In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

A. M. DREW, GEO. A. NOURSE. 

